I had the honor and pleasure of spending part of my Mother's Day weekend with the wonderful people of the Shoppes at Bellingham who hosted the "Frost Yourself with Kindness" event. I was invited to speak at a fashion show hosted by the Benjamin Franklin Charter School held at Bob's Discount Furniture to raise funds for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC). This was just one of many fundraising events held as part of the "Frost Yourself with Kindness" event. As I stood at the podium this past weekend and looked out into the audience of parents, teachers, business owners, town officials, and children, it was evident why we at MBCC -- all of our staff, volunteers, and supporters -- do what we do, so that someday, families will no longer be touched by breast cancer.

I was truly honored that so many people came forward to share with me their personal stories of diagnosis or loss of a friend or family member. Everyone, unfortunately, has a story of how they have been impacted by breast cancer. Yet, in seeing the pride in people's faces as they came together to make a difference, I left the event feeling grateful, inspired, and rejuvenated. This outpouring of community support for breast cancer prevention, thanks to WS Development and the Shoppes at Bellingham, fuels MBCC's work to eradicate the disease.

With every person who supports our efforts, we move one step closer toward our goal. People like Justine Grossman, our newest Against the Tide Statewide Chairwoman, are dedicated to making a difference for future generations, and for that we are grateful. We are so very happy to have Justine join MBCC, and in this newsletter, we share just a little of Justine's compelling story.

We are proud to say that the Let's Talk Prevention tour is reaching more and more medical professionals and patients throughout the state. Upcoming tour dates and locations are included in this newsletter.

This year for the first time, we are excited that MBCC has been included in the Numbers for Non-Profits Program with the New Balance Falmouth Road Race. This is another wonderful opportunity for people to join in MBCC's efforts. Read on to learn more about running with MBCC in Falmouth this August.

Thank you for supporting MBCC. We look forward to working with you toward our goal of breast cancer prevention.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Cheryl Osimo

Executive Director

We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the "Frost Yourself with Kindness" event possible:

Barnes & Noble

Bob's Discount Furniture

Douglas Wine & Spirits

GAP

Greater Boston Media

Home Depot

Middlesex Savings Bank

Old Navy

Supercuts

Uno's Chicago Grill

Whole Foods Market

Joanne Basile, Benjamin Franklin Charter School

Denis Fraine, Bellingham Town Administrator

Holly Bitz, WS Development

Ellyn Fleshner, WS Development

Meet Justine Grossman - Against the Tide Fundraiser

Justine with her father and mother

After watching both grandmothers battle breast cancer, Justine Grossman was determined to do all she could to protect her health and to prevent others from suffering from the horrific disease.

Having completed her first long distance swim in a relay triathlon last summer, Justine wanted to dive in again - this time for breast cancer prevention. She found the Against the Tide swim, kayak, walk, and/or run event - one of America's Top 50 Open Water Swims - and quickly signed up.

With invigorated passion to make a difference, Justine dedicates each day of training and fundraising to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) and her grandmothers, who she ultimately lost to breast cancer. We are inspired and humbled by Justine's commitment to end the breast cancer epidemic through prevention.

To make a pledge on Justine's Against the Tide fundraising page, click here. You can also register yourself for the event. You can participate in one, two, or three components of the swim, kayak, walk, run event recreationally or competitively.

Let's Talk Prevention: Reducing Toxic Exposures

Encouraging a discussion between health professionals and their patients

We continue to spread the word about the importance of understanding the risks of toxic exposures. With our patient brochure now available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, we continue to work to have our materials translated into more languages in order to help reach as many families as possible. For more information on the Let's Talk Prevention: Reducing Toxic Exposures tour click here.

If you are interested in learning more about hosting the tour, please contact us.

Run the Falmouth Road Race for MBCC

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is very excited to announce that we have been accepted into the New Balance Falmouth Road Race's Numbers for Non-Profits Program.

The Falmouth Road Race, to be held on August 16, 2015, is a beautiful seven-mile race that begins in Woods Hole and runs along scenic Cape Cod, ending at the beach in Falmouth Heights. From elite runners to back-of-the-pack joggers, running the Falmouth Road Race is a unique experience. As this great race tradition enters it's 43rd year, MBCC is honored to be participating and sponsoring a team.

Running on behalf of MBCC will only enhance this race experience, as you know the funds you raise will help MBCC towards our work of breast cancer prevention.

Join the official MBCC team in the New Balance Falmouth Road Race and raise funds to help MBCC prevent breast cancer for future generations. Click here for more information and to register.

NSTAR/Eversource Plan to Use Toxic Herbicides Again in 2015

NSTAR (now re-branded as Eversource Energy) has published their 2015 Yearly Operational Plan (YOP) for Cape Cod and beyond. Once again includes the use of powerful herbicides. Please spend a little time looking at the plan, the maps, the warnings. The plans are not substantially different from town to town but the deadlines for public comments differ. Click here for the sample YOP from Cape Cod. To find your town plan, please click here. They "read" well, but the field work is not implemented according to the approved plans, resulting in potential exposures to nearby residents and unsuspecting visitors from harmful herbicides.

The Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources must approve the Yearly Operational Plan for every town or region. If you oppose the spraying of herbicides on privately-owned land and on town property without the knowledge or consent of the owners, and the potential contamination of the water supply, please send your comments by the deadline for your town to:

cc: Governor Charlie Baker and AG Maura Healey. Send a copy to your town officials and state representatives.

If you plan to vacation on Cape Cod, you should know that the following towns have been targeted for herbicide spraying as part of the NSTAR/Eversource plan: Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, & Yarmouth. Brewster and Martha's Vineyard towns are not listed this year, but that information may not be reliable, given the utility's poor communications.

Click herefor the full NSTAR Update, including immediate actions you can take to prevent NSTAR spraying in your community.

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy. MBCC is the only education and advocacy non-profit in the country working closely with an environmental research organization toward breast cancer prevention. Thank you for supporting our efforts toward breast cancer prevention. Learn more.